Fastening strip for trim material



Dec. 12, 1933. I A. .1. SMITH 1,938,871

FASTENING STRIP FOR TRIM MATERIAL Original Filed Nov. 15, 1930VIII/717115 154; f 5: 71111111111111.

/Z INVENTOR.

I". (lg Tea M. Smith FMM ATTORNEY,S

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,938,871 FASTENING s'rarr FOR TRIMMATERIAL Alfred J. Smith, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Woodall IndustriesIncorporated, a corporation of Michigan Original application November15, 1930, Serial No. 495,940. Divided and this application January 19,1932. Serial No. 587,567

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in interior trim construction forautomotive vehicles and has particular reference to an improvedfastening strip utilized to secure interior trim panels to a supportingframe. This application constitutes a division of my copendingapplication Serial No. 495,940, filed November 15, 1930.

An important object of my invention is to eliminate to a large extentthe time required to 13 position the panel by providing an integralfastening element adapted to extend along the entire length of one edgeof a panel and to bev secured thereto as a unit and to be also securedto the frame as a unit. I propose to provide each extended integralfastening element with means whereby it may be secured, from the rear,along the, edge of the panel by a single movement of the trim worker andsubsequently positioned firmly in place upon the supporting frame of theautomotive vehicle with a like movement.

With my improved fastening means it will simply be necessary to insertone of the individual strip fastening units along each edge of thetrimmed panel, from the rear face thereof, each insertion requiring butone movement on the part of the trim man, and subsequently secure theentire panel in position with a single similar movement on the part ofsaid worker.

Another important object is to provide a fastener adapted to extend as aunit along one entire edge of a panel and to function as a unit to holdthe panel as a unit along said edge securely against the supportingframe.

While I have illustrated the invention in conjunction with automotivevehicle structure it will be apparent that the application of theparticular fastening means described and claimed herein is in no wiselimited to this particular art, its {9 utility extending to any instancewhere it is desirable to secure a panel to a supporting frame providedtherefor. Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals illustratelike parts throughout the several figures and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of my'improved fastening unit, I V

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly broken away of a panel positioned by meansof theimproved unit, and

Fig. 3 is a section along 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Numeral indicates a relatively thin strip of sheet material, preferablyof metal, having tabs 12 and 14 struck therefrom at spaced apartintervals along its length. It will be noted that alternate tabs 12extend longitudinally along the length of the strip and that alternatetabs 14 extend transversely across the strip.

By utilizing strip material of an inherently springy-material each ofthe tabs 12 and 14 will have a flexible, gripping tendency. I have ilnolustrated my improved fastening means in conjunction with the door frame16 of a conventional automotive vehicle body. The panel supportingportion 18 of door frame 16 is provided with apertures 19 at intervalsaround its periphery, these 5 apertures being preferably square orrectangular, and spaced apart at intervals corresponding to the distancebetween alternate tabs 12 or 14.

Each of the panels 20 is provided with suitable apertures 26, here shownas square or rectangula: in shape, at spaced intervals around itsmargin. While for the sake of simplicity, these panels have beenillustrated without any covering or trim material applied thereto, itwill be understood that such trim material may be applied to the exposedface of the panel, folded over the edges of the panel and secured to therear surface without in any way adversely affecting the operationshereafter to be described. It will be noted that each of the tabs 14 and12, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is preferably provided with a seat portion15 extending away from the strip 10 and a wall portion 1'7 lying in aplane substantially parallel to that of the strip itself but displacedtherefrom. While this particular form of tab is not essential, it beingobvious that there need only be such deformation from outside the planeof the panel as to serve the desired purpose, this particular form hasbeen found desirable.

To position a panel in place on a frame, a plurality of strips 10 aresecured to the marginal ,portion of the rear face. of the panel byinserting the tabs 12 or 14 into the apertures 26 of the panel. Inasmuchas the tabs 12 and 14 are designed to aline accurately with theapertures 26 each of these strips may be positioned properly in thepanel by a single movement of the trim worker. The strips 10 which aredesigned to extend vertically, as are the two side strips in Fig. 2,utilize the transverse tabs 14 to secure the strip to the panel whilethe top and bottom horizontal strips utilize the longitudinallyextending tabs 12 for inserting in the panel.

It will be noted that one of the two strips should preferably beslightly different from the remaining three in that the transverse tabs14, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the left hand vertical strip, extend inthe opposite direction to tabs 14 on the right hand vertical strip.While this is not essential it is preferable for the purpose of 1 0positioned upon the supporting frame 16.

Having inserted the strips in position around the margins of the panelthese strips will provide rearwardly and downwardly projecting tabsaround the entire margin of the panel which are adapted to dropsimultaneously in the spaced apart apertures 19 provided in frame 18.The inherent springiness of the tabs function to hold the panel firmlyin position upon the frame.

As indicated in Fig. 1 longitudinally extending tabs 12 will beavailable for this purpose on the vertical side strips, whiletransversely extending tabs 14 will be in a position to drop into theframe apertures 26 in the horizontal top and bottom strips. Thus it willbe apparent that the entire panel is properly positioned in place uponthe frame simply by alining the respective tabs 12 and 14 with theapertures 26 provided in the frame and dropping the whole panel as aunit.

The procedure outlined above constitutes a substantial improvement overany assembly hitherto known or utilized for positioning panels onautomotive body structure and eliminates the necessity of an individualfastener for each individual opening, the insertion and securing ofwhich requires accuracy and considerable time. Each of the fastenerstrips 10 requires but a single movement of the trim worker for securingthe same to the panel, and since the entire panel may he slipped intoplace with a single movement after the strips are secured to the marginsof the panels, the assembly is simple and rapid.

Having illustrated a preferred embodiment of my improved structure,various others will be apparent to those skilled in the art and for thatreason I intend to limit myself only within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A panel fastening element comprising a strip of material having tabsstruck therefrom at spaced apart intervals along its length, said tabsbeing struck alternately from opposite sides of said strip and alternatetabs extending longitudinally and transversely thereof.

2. A panel supporting element comprising a strip of inherently resilientmaterial having a plurality of tabs struck therefrom at spaced apartintervals along its length, said tabs being struck alternately uponopposite sides of said strip, the tabs on one side thereof extendinglongitudinally of said strip and the tabs on the other side extendingtransversely thereof.

3. A fastening strip having a plurality of fastening portions struckfrom the body thereof, each of said portions comprising a seat lying ina plane substantially normal to that of the strip, and a wall lying in aplane substantially parallel to that of said strip, each alternate seatbeing perpendicular to the seat of the adjacent fastening portion.

4. A fastening strip having a plurality..of fastening portions struckfrom the body thereof, each of said portions comprising a seat lying ina plane substantially normal to that of the strip, and a wall lying in aplane substantially parallel to that of said strip, each alternate seatlying on opposite sides of said strip.

5. A fastening strip having a plurality of fastening portions struckfrom the body thereof, each of said portions comprising a seat lying ina plane substantially normal to that of the strip, and a wall lying in aplane substantially parallel to that of said strip, each alternate seatbeing perpendicular to the corresponding part of the adjacent fasteningportion and lying on opposite sides respectively of the strip.

6. A panel fastening element comprising a strip of material having tabsstruck therefrom at spaced apart intervals along its length, said tabsbeing struck alternately from opposite sides of said strip andalternating tabs extending in perpendicular relation to one another.

ALFRED J. SMITH.

